A Year of Picnics – Ashley English

While Ashley English’s A Year of Picnics: Recipes for Dining Well in the Great Outdoors is, in theory, a cookbook and guide that shares the keys to a perfect picnic, the great selection of recipes can be used for any occasion – basket and blanket optional. 

The chapters are organized seasonally with dishes featuring ingredients that are fresh and at their peak. The bonus here is that Ashley gives pointers on what elements in nature to take in while you are enjoying the outdoors. Instructions are given for such activities as making a DIY utensil holder or creating a mushroom spore print.  Spring and Summer offer such delights as Cardamom, Rose Water and Berry Coffee Cake, Zucchini Gratin, and Quinoa and Pecan Casserole as picnic-perfect dishes but also would be lovely for any meal.  Fall & Winter delivers Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, Dijon Mustard Pork Chop Sandwich, and Twice- Baked Potatoes.

If themes are your thing, themed picnics such as the Bird Watching Picnic, The Tea Party or The Romantic Picnic are set out for you with ideas and recipes to set the mood. Beautiful photographs of the food and nature are plentiful and the stimulus one needs to get off the couch and try something adventurous (yes, at this point in my life – having a picnic is adventurous). 

Roost Books and the author are sharing the recipe for Trail Mix Blondies – which are amazing. Head over to our giveaway for a chance at one of five copies of this book open to US and Canada members.

 

Trail Mix Blondies

A playful nod to trail mix is my final take on classic hiking edibles. I’ve nestled granola and chocolate chips into a blondie bar, creating a highly transportable food that can be eaten with your hands, no need for utensils. Do be sure to select a somewhat fatty granola.

SERVES 9 TO 12

1⁄2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
3⁄4 cup packed light brown sugar
1⁄4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
1⁄2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup granola


1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter an 8 × 8-inch baking pan and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, beat together the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape down the beaters with a spatula.

3. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until well incorporated. Scrape down the beaters again.

4. Add the flour and salt, beating until just incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips and granola.

5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and spread out evenly using a spatula. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is golden and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.

From A Year of Picnics by Ashley English © 2017 by Ashley English. Photographs © 2017 by Jen Altman. Reprinted in arrangement with Roost Books, an imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boulder, CO. 

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27 Comments

  • jwhise79  on  May 20, 2017

    I would like to try the Chimichurri chicken 🙂

  • cocecitycook  on  May 20, 2017

    Country Pate, potato salad with a Dijon dressing, a loaf of crusty bread and a bottle of wine equal picnic in my mind!

  • Siegal  on  May 20, 2017

    I like baguettes with cheese

  • lgroom  on  May 21, 2017

    Any picnic we had as kids involved fried chicken, potato salad, and beans … therefore, when I'm picnicing, I make fried chicken, potato salad, and beans.

  • lebarron2001  on  May 22, 2017

    My favorite picnic has a variety of Italian meats and cheeses, olives, bread and of course wine.

  • sgump  on  May 22, 2017

    For a picnic, I always must have an old Pennsylvania Dutch macaroni salad recipe: with chopped red onion, chopped green pepper, chopped celery, sliced green olives, and possibly shredded carrot–everything in a dressing of evaporated milk, powdered sugar, and LOTS of apple cider vinegar.

  • trudys_person  on  May 22, 2017

    For us, a picnic has to include potato salad (with hard-boiled eggs in it, my preference) and Libby's Deep Browned Beans (my husband's tradition). After that we are open to anything!

  • JenJoLa  on  May 23, 2017

    Cold fried chicken usually hits the spot.

  • VickiN  on  May 25, 2017

    I love macaroni salad and cold chicken.

  • thewoobdog  on  May 25, 2017

    My favorite picnic dish is probably the Marinated Summer Bean salad from the William's Sonoma Eat Well cookbook.

  • nandag  on  May 25, 2017

    Salami deli sandwiches with everything!

  • lindaeatsherbooks  on  May 25, 2017

    My favourite picnic dish is potato salad in sandwiches.

  • love2chow  on  May 26, 2017

    Are there recipes for good hand-held meals besides sandwiches?

  • vinochic  on  May 26, 2017

    a good quinoa salad

  • PennyG  on  May 26, 2017

    Cold fried chicken.

  • t.t  on  May 27, 2017

    fruit salad

  • RSW  on  May 30, 2017

    Potato Salac

  • pappaslauren  on  May 30, 2017

    The maple pound cake sounds amazing!

  • fiarose  on  May 31, 2017

    i love a good herby, vegetable-y grain salad–couscous, quinoa, even orzo! so nice and refreshing

  • kitchenclimbers  on  June 8, 2017

    cheese and salami

  • RoseMGenuine  on  June 9, 2017

    The smoked salmon and herb sandwiches! I love smoked salmon.

  • BMeyer  on  June 9, 2017

    Barefoot Contessas chicken salad with grapes and nuts

  • Nancith  on  June 11, 2017

    My favorite would have to be my mom's macaroni salad–it takes me back to family swim parties & long summer evenings spent with cousins!

  • nomadchowwoman  on  June 12, 2017

    I love taking along a rustic ciabatta loaf, stuffed with rare roast beef, arugula, thin slices of red onion, and garlicky mayo, and then sliced into "fingers" and also a pile of elegant little triangle sandwiches, some filled with a paste of smoked salmon, crème fraîche, horseradish, and chives and some with egg salad.

  • tarae1204  on  June 15, 2017

    Deviled eggs, or a caprese salad

  • orchidlady01  on  June 17, 2017

    Submarine sandwiches and potato salad are my favorite picnic foods.

  • meggan  on  June 19, 2017

    Cornichon dressed potato salad.

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